Chosen People by Robert Whitlow got an almost unanimous thumbs up from my book club. Pretty good considering we are a choosy group. Robert Whitlow has continued to be one of our favorite authors even as some of his books were a miss for all or several of our members. We love his relevant themes, realistic and relatable characters, and of course the legal drama of his novels. So what should we read next? Here are a few recommendations that have a legal, terrorism, and/or Middle East connection.

As teenagers, Kristin Dane and her two best friends took a vow to make the world a better place. Twenty years later, she’s fulfilling that pledge through her fair trade shop that features products from around the world. All is well until, one by one, people connected to the shop begin dying.

Detective Luke Carter, new to the St. Louis PD, wants to know why. Before he can answer that question, however, the FBI weighs in and Kristin suddenly finds herself in the middle of international intrigue–and in the sights of the ruthless mastermind behind an ingenious and deadly, scheme. Can this cold-blooded killer be stopped before more people die . . . including Kristin?

Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq–kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region.

Two others also drop out of sight–a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked?

Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation. Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy–from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

Dr. Kelly Irving knew her husband, attorney Jack Harbaugh, was acting strangely, but figured they’d get through it. When she backed out of her garage that morning, she thought her car hit a bump. Instead, its progress was stopped by the body of a man her husband recently represented. Not only that, the dead man had been shot by her husband’s gun. The police who investigated made it clear that Jack was a primary suspect.

Kelly couldn’t decide if Jack was a murderer or marked as the next victim. As things continued to escalate, they were forced to put their marital differences aside and concentrate on keeping Jack alive while discovering who was behind the whole thing.

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, now writing “medical suspense with heart”. He is the author of ten published novels, three novellas, and a non-fiction book. His novels have garnered critical acclaim and been finalists for ACFW’s Carol Award, both the Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year and Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Inspirational Readers Choice, and the Selah Award. He is a proud member of the ACFW, the International Thriller Writers, the Christian Authors Network, the FHL chapter of the RWA, and Novelists Inc.

Emergency Caseis the newest novella by Dr. Richard Mabry. Mabry is known for his faith-filled, suspenseful books, and this one is no exception. But this time we get a husband and wife team with legal and medical perspectives trying to outwit the bad guys. I really liked the married couple, Kelly and Jack Harbaugh. Theirs is not a perfect marriage — their respective careers demand a lot from them. But they were committed to each other and making their relationship work, though things get a bit sidetracked as Jack is a suspect in the murder of his client and unknown assailants continue to attack. Emergency Case is a short and fast-paced read; you could finish this one in one sitting, but it doesn’t scrimp on the essentials — determined characters, a puzzling mystery, and thoughtful questions of faith and ethics. It’s a winner! And a recommended read from me.

Happy New Year! On the first of the month I usually share my book club’s selection. But since today is the first day of a brand new year, I thought it fitting to share all the books we are reading in 2019. There is a mix of genres — romance, suspense, Biblical, historical — something for everyone. We would love for you to join us. Check out our FB page.

January — Chosen People by Robert WhitlowFebruary — Five Brides by Eva Marie Everson March — Delayed Justice by Cara PutmanApril — The Sky Above Us by Sarah SundinMay — Mind Games by Nancy MehlJune — Almost Home by Valerie Fraser LuesseJuly — The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo WrightAugust — The Memory House by Rachel HauckSeptember — The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson/Lynette Eason/Dani PettreyOctober — Judah’s Wife by Angela Hunt November — Crisis Shot by Janice CantoreDecember — Christmas book

I am bowled over by the number of excellent books I read in 2018! It was very, very, very hard to come up with a list of the best, let alone trying to limit it to just 10! So I cheated (of course) and made two Top 10 Lists — one contemporary and one historical. And before you say but, but . . . I know that three of the books on the historical list are dual timelines, but without the historical component, the book would not have existed. There is also plenty of suspense and romance — really something for everyone on this list. Those with an asterisk were book club books that got unanimous thumbs up! I hope you find one or two (or all) that will pique your interest.

I am so excited! Both of my book clubs are meeting this month. By The Book meets regularly every month, but Page Turners has been hit or miss for a while. But, we’ve got great books scheduled for both groups. Yoo hoo! What about you? What are you reading this month?

By The Book’s January Selection — Chosen People by Robert Whitlow

During a terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a courageous mother sacrifices her life to save her four-year-old daughter, leaving behind a grieving husband and a motherless child.

Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli lawyer trained at Hebrew University, typically uses her language skills to represent international clients for an Atlanta law firm. When her boss is contacted by Jakob Brodsky, a young Jewish lawyer pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of the woman’s family under the US Anti-Terrorism laws, he calls on Hana’s expertise to take point on the case. After careful prayer, she joins forces with Jakob, and they quickly realize the need to bring in a third member for their team, an Arab investigator named Daud Hasan, based in Israel.

To unravel the case, this team of investigators travels from the streets of Atlanta to the alleys of Jerusalem, a world where hidden motives thrive, the risk of death is real, and the search for truth has many faces. What they uncover will forever change their understanding of justice, heritage, and what it means to be chosen for a greater purpose.

From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.” When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis — known as Jack — she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn’t holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy.

In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice — and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had.

At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer’s life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story — a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.

About the Book

Bestselling author Robert Whitlow dives deep into the legal ramifications of a tragic event half a world away and how it affects two lawyers in Atlanta from vastly different backgrounds.

When Hana Abboud walked into the conference room, she was unprepared for the images of a horrific terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. But after watching a courageous mother sacrifice her life to save her four-year-old daughter, Hana knew she needed to help attorney Jakob Brodsky represent the family’s pursuit of justice against those who perpetrate acts of violent jihad. As an Arab Israeli lawyer trained at Hebrew University, Hana is uniquely qualified to step into the gap.
But they need a third partner, an investigator on the ground to help them unravel the snake pit of connections between the terrorists and an organization or company that can be sued in the American courts. Hana returns home to Israel and meets with investigator Hamid Hasan who quickly becomes more than a crucial part of the litigation team.

As Jakob and Hana investigate the case in the US, he is stalked on the streets of Atlanta by affiliates of a terrorist organization. Their pursuit of truth can only be resolved where it began: the streets of Jerusalem. But who can they trust? How deep does deceit go? Can two lawyers and a shadowy investigator impact the kind of violence and terror that has become common in our broken world?

About the Author

Robert Whitlow is the bestselling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. Website: robertwhitlow.com, Twitter: @whitlowwriter, Facebook: robertwhitlowbooks

Guest Post from Robert

Inside the Story

Chosen People— a title that reflects both the Biblical designation for the Jewish nation as well as converted Christians—opens during a terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A courageous mother sacrifices her life to save her young daughter, leaving behind a grieving husband and a motherless child.

Whitlow’s many trips to Israel and his in-depth research into the culture and laws of the Holy City are evident throughout the story. Furthermore, his experience as a lawyer gives him keen insight into the mind of his main character Hanna Abboud, an Arab Christian Israeli lawyer working in Atlanta.

“This book provides a unique perspective to this region and its peoples through the eyes of an Arab Christian who believes that the faithfulness of God and truths of the Bible are unshakable realities,” says Whitlow. “This viewpoint is rarely expressed, yet it is one that needs and deserves to be heard so that it can become part of our framework for understanding this vital part of the world and the people who live there.”

My Impressions:

Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. In fact, he is also one of my husband’s favorites and one of my book club’s favorites. We are all very excited when a new novel is released. So it was with the great anticipation of a good read that I opened the cover of Chosen People. Oh, my goodness! Chosen People moves up to the top of the list for best book by Whitlow. This book has it all! It gets a highly recommended rating from me.

Chosen People is legal drama at its best — an intriguing case, determined attorneys seeking justice, and clients that deserve the best of outcomes. Add to this a timely backdrop of international terrorism, a mix of cultures and beliefs, and the setting of Israel, and you get a book that is sure to please the most discerning of readers. Whitlow has succeeded in bringing to life the vibrant world of modern Israel from the perspectives of Israeli Jew and Arab, and those who visit from other parts of the world. The lawsuit that main characters Hana, Jakob, and Daud pursue is a complex mix of American anti-terrorism laws, financial investigations, and dark underworld connections. It kept this reader engaged throughout. The early parts of the book deal heavily with the case, but it soon becomes apparent that there is danger for all who are connected to the case. And while I loved the intricacies of the law, the characters were the real star. I had several favorites, but it is Hana Abboud, an Israeli Arab Christian working as a lawyer in Atlanta, that captured my imagination. She is obviously skilled in her work, but her faith is real and alive and was inspiring on many levels. She cares for all people regardless of their ethnicity or religion. Hana indeed is a woman who lives out her faith in tangible ways. She describes it to her co-counsel in this way: . . . my relationship with God through Jesus is my core. I know that’s a religious statement, but it’s not just a belief or an idea; it transforms everything about who I am and how I relate to all people, regardless of who they are and where they come from.” (p.354). What a great statement! There are many powerful, faith-filled moments in this book that add a depth to an already excellent legal suspense novel.

My book club will be reading Chosen People in the coming months. I cannot wait to hear where our discussion will take us. Grab this book and some friends — you will want to talk about it when you are finished.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

As a blogger/reviewer of Inspirational and Clean Fiction it is a challenge to come up with a Halloween theme each year. I’ve racked my brain this year and have come up with not much of anything. I have already done Halloween Cozies,Spooky Christian Fiction, and even Reformation Reading. Yes I was reaching with that one. 😉 So this year I am opting for Halloween Randomness — covers that remind me of October days, covers that are ominous, and some good old fashioned supernatural fiction. I have read a few of these books; others are at the top of my TBR. I hope you find one you will love!

Be sure to head over to That Artsy Reader Girl where I am sure you will find some Halloween fun much more clever than mine!

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